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Landfill Accounting (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) site $ / T | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / T | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Landfill Accounting [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of municipal solid waste landfills owned or operated by company | 68 |  |
Number of owned landfills that only accept exploration and production waste | 11 |  |
Number of owned landfills that only accept construction and demolition, industrial and other non-putrescible waste | 14 |  |
Number of landfills owned and operated by company | 79 |  |
Number of landfills operated, not owned, under life-of-site operating agreements | 8 |  |
Number of landfills operated under limited-term operating agreements | 6 |  |
Property and equipment, net | $ | $ 4,721,669 |  | $ 4,738,055
Average remaining landfill life based on permitted capacity and projected annual disposal volumes | 26 years |  |
Number of owned landfills the company is seeking to expand | 16 |  |
Number of landfills operated under life-of-site operating agreements that the company is seeking to expand | 2 |  |
Average remaining landfill life based on permitted capacity, projected annual disposal volumes and probable expansion capacity | 32 years |  |
Life of Company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life-of-site operating agreements min range | 1 year |  |
Life of Company's owned landfills and landfills operated under life of site operating agreements max range | 196 years |  |
Landfill depletion expense | $ | $ 42,988 | $ 18,926 |
Average rate per ton consumed related to landfill depletion at owned landfills and landfills operated under life-of-site agreements | $ / T | 4.55 | 3.65 |
Discount rate for purposes of computing layers for final capping, closure and post-closure obligations | 4.75% |  | 4.75%
Inflation rate for purposes of computing layers for final capping, closure and post-closure obligations | 2.50% |  | 2.50%
Accretion expense associated with landfill obligations | $ | $ 2,866 | $ 1,061 |
Average rate per ton consumed related to final capping, closure and post-closure landfill accretion expense | $ / T | 0.30 | 0.20 |
Restricted asset balance for purposes of securing our performance of future final capping, closure and post-closure obligations | $ | $ 56,063 |  | $ 55,388
Landfill [Member] |  |  |
Landfill Accounting [Line Items] |  |  |
Property and equipment, net | $ | $ 2,717,100 |  |

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